U.S. patent number 4,629,097 [Application Number 06/704,488] was granted by the patent office on 1986-12-16 for snap-action orifice sealing plug for viscous product dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Realex Corporation. Invention is credited to David G. Moore.
United States Patent |
4,629,097 |
Moore |
December 16, 1986 |
Snap-action orifice sealing plug for viscous product dispenser
Abstract
The depressible actuator of the pump has a closure plug hingedly
and integrally attached thereto in association with an integral
toggle so that the plug may be snapped between a pair of opposite
over-center positions about the hinge point. In one of the
positions, the plug may be inserted snuggly into the otherwise open
end of the dispensing spout of the pump so as to close and seal the
latter, while in the other over-center position the plug is snapped
back into a fully clearing relationship with the spout to not only
open the latter but also remain out of the path of discharging
travel of product emanating from the spout. When the plug is
securely received within the spout, it cannot be pulled out merely
by depressing the actuator, and thus the actuator becomes
effectively locked against depression at that time.
Inventors: |
Moore; David G. (Lee's Summit,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Realex Corporation (Kansas
City, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
24829741 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/704,488 |
Filed: |
February 22, 1985 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/153.13;
222/260; 222/386; 222/387; 222/498; 222/505 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/0033 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/00 (20060101); B67D 005/32 (); B67D
005/42 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/517,153,380,383,384,385,386,387,389,511,320,321,340,207,209,212,498,505,556 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
US. Ser. No. 06/565,540; filed Dec. 27, 1983; Ford et al; Pasty
Product Dispenser Having Combination Actuator and Outlet
Valve..
|
Primary Examiner: Rolla; Joseph J.
Assistant Examiner: Alexander; Jay I.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a dispensing pump having a discharge spout and a movable
actuator adjacent the spout for operating the pump, the improvement
comprising:
a closure for the end of said spout hingedly attached to said
actuator for movement relative to the actuator between a closed
position for closing the spout and an open position for opening the
spout; and
toggle means operably coupled with said closure and the actuator
for yieldably holding the closure in either of said selected
positions,
said closure including a plug configured to be matingly received
within the spout when the closure is in said closed position
thereof.
2. In a dispensing pump having a discharge spout and a movable
actuator adjacent the spout for operating the pump, the improvement
comprising:
a closure for the end of said spout hingedly attached to said
actuator for movement relative to the actuator between a closed
position for closing the spout and an open position for opening the
spout; and
toggle means operably coupled with said closure and the actuator
for yieldably holding the closure in either of said selected
positions,
said closure and said toggle means being integrally formed with the
actuator,
said closure including a plug configured to be matingly received
within the spout when the closure is in said closed position
thereof.
3. In a dispensing pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein said toggle
means comprises a resilient, generally inverted L-shaped member
spanning the hinge between the closure and the actuator and having
a pair of resiliently interconnected legs, said member having one
leg thereof hingedly joined with the closure and the other leg
thereof hingedly joined with the actuator.
4. In a dispensing pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spout
is mounted for reciprocation during each dispensing operation of
the actuator, said actuator being coupled with said spout in a
manner to reciprocate the spout during operation of the
actuator.
5. In a dispensing pump having a discharge spout and a movable
actuator adjacent the spout for operating the pump, the improvement
comprising:
a closure for the end of the spout secured to the actuator but
movable relative to the latter between an open position for opening
the spout and a closed position for closing the spout when the
actuator is in a standby position,
said closure being disposed when in said closed position to engage
the spout in a manner that prevents operation of the actuator,
thereby releasably locking the same in said standby position,
said closure comprising a plug insertable into the spout.
6. In a dispensing pump as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plug is
hingedly attached to the actuator for swinging movement between
said open and closed positions.
7. In a dispensing pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plug is
provided with a toggle between the same and the actuator for
yieldably retaining the plug in either of said open and closed
positions thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the field of pump dispensers,
particularly those for viscous products and, more especially,
relates to a novel, protective closure arrangement for the
discharge spout of such pumps.
BACKGROUND
Prior pending U.S. application Ser. No. 06/565,540; Filed Dec. 27,
1983, in the name of Ford et al., titled "PASTY PRODUCT DISPENSER
HAVING COMBINATION ACTUATOR AND OUTLET VALVE", assigned to the
assignee of the present invention, discloses and claims a viscous
product dispenser having its spout closable by a valve cover or
flap integrated into and made a part of the actuator which is
depressed for operating the pump. The rigid flap covers and seals
off the spout when the actuator is in its standby position and
lifts off the spout to uncover the same when the actuator is
depressed to its operated position.
Thus, the flap in said prior application is immovable relative to
the actuator and is either opened or closed depending solely upon
the position of the actuator itself.
There are times, however, when it would be desirable to be able to
open the end of the spout without also depressing the actuator. On
the other hand, having the valve flap built into the actuator
assures that the closure for the spout will not be lost or
misplaced since it is always attached to and made a part of the
pump itself.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to
provide a closure for the spout which is attached to and carried by
the actuator so as to always remain associated with the pump and
thus avoid misplacement or loss, yet which can be flipped opened or
closed in a snap action relative to the actuator by virtue of an
integral hinge and toggle associated with the closure and
actuator.
Furthermore, an important object of the invention is to provide the
toggle action closure with a plug-like configuration so that, when
in its closed position, the closure fits down snuggly into the
discharge end of the spout and thus securely holds the actuator
against unintentional depression in a pumping stroke, forming in
this respect a type of releasable lock or latch which doubles also
as a spout closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical cross-sectional view of a
dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention showing the actuator in an undepressed condition
with the closure plug snapped into the open end of the spout;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view of the upper
end of the pump with the actuator still in its undepressed position
but with the closure plug snapped back into its open position;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, plan view of the back side of
the closure plug showing details of construction of the hinge and
toggle associated therewith;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the dispensing pump in the condition
of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the pump
showing the actuator fully depressed and the closure plug snapped
back into its open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The pump of the present invention has a long, tubular, normally
upright body 10 provided with an internal pumping chamber 12 within
which the product is confined. The lower end of the body 10 has an
outwardly flaring skirt 14 which facilitates standing the pump in
an upright condition on a supporting surface, and the internal
chamber 12 is open to the atmosphere in the area of the skirt 14
except for the presence of a floating take-up piston 16 which moves
progressively upwardly through the chamber 12 as the contents
thereof become progressively depleted. In this respect, the piston
16 has a radially outermost, upwardly and outwardly projecting
peripheral skirt 18 which makes sealing engagement with the
interior surface 10a of the body 10, as well as with an outermost,
downwardly and outwardly extending second peripheral skirt 20
disposed below upper skirt 18 and likewise making sealing contact
with the surface 10a. This piston 16 is adapted for upward movement
only by virtue of one-way, anti-retrograde means 22 in the form of,
for example, a downwardly and outwardly flaring thin metal skirt 24
or the like which makes biting engagement with the surface 10a. The
angle of attack of the metal skirt 24 with the surface 10a is such
that the skirt 24 will flex downwardly a sufficient extent as to
permit upward movement of the piston 16 yet dig into the surface
10a with sufficient force when downward pressure is applied to the
top of piston 16 so as to prevent downward movement thereof within
the body 10.
Adjacent the upper end of the body 10, a centrally disposed,
upright sleeve 26 guidably receives the tubular stem 28 of a
pumping piston 30, which itself is provided with outermost upper
and lower, peripheral sealing skirts 32 and 34 respectively which
wipe along the surface 10a of body 10 during reciprocation of the
piston 30. An internal, upright passage 36 within the stem 28
communicates with a similar passage 38 in a tubular spout 40
slipped down over the upper end of stem 28 and fixedly secured
thereto through snap bead connections 42 or the like. Thus, the
spout 40 and the piston 30 are adapted for movement as a unit
during reciprocation of the piston 30 and, in this respect, a coil
spring 44 surrounding the stem 28 is trapped between an inturned
portion 46 of the sleeve 26 at its lower end and the overhead
proximal end of the spout 40 so as to yieldably bias the piston and
spout upwardly and outwardly relative to the body 10 toward the
position as illustrated in FIG. 1.
The piston 30 is operated via an actuator 48 adjacent the upper end
of the body 10 and mounted pivotally on the spout 40 for movement
between a standby position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a
depressed position as illustrated in FIG. 5. A finger engageable
portion 50 of the actuator 48 presents a relatively broad surface
as illustrated in FIG. 4 for engagement and depression by a user,
while a pair of spaced legs 52 and 54 project from the portion 50
and straddle the spout 40 on opposite sides of the latter.
Diametrically opposed, outwardly projecting fulcrum pegs 56 and 58
on the exterior of the spout 40 are received in the respective
crotches of the legs 52, 54 whereby to rockably support the
actuator 48. Th forwardmost ends of the legs 52, 54 are situated
beneath overhanging ledge structure (not shown) so that, after the
actuator 48 is rocked downwardly about the pegs 56, 58 to a certain
extent in a lost motion action, the legs 52, 54 engage the ledge
structure for thereafter causing depression of the piston 30 as
depression of the actuator 48 continues.
The actuator 48 is also provided with a web portion 59 leading
upwardly and forwardly from the finger-enaging portion 50. At the
outer end of web portion 59, a closure plug 60 is hingedly
attached. Preferably, the actuator 48 and the closure plug 60
comprise integrally molded portions of the same, unitary part, the
hinge for the plug 60 comprising a pair of axially aligned, spaced
apart lines of weakness 62 and 64. Between the spaced hinge lines
62 and 64 is disposed an inverted generally L-shaped toggle 66
which spans the axis of the hinge lines 62, 64 and has a pair of
integrally interconnected, resilient legs 68 and 70. The leg 68 is
hingedly joined with the web portion 59 by a hinge line of weakness
72, while the other leg 70 is hingedly joined with the plug 60 by a
hinge line of weakness 74. Thus, the toggle 66 is capable of
yieldably retaining the plug 60 in either of two opposite,
over-center positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2
respectively.
Preferably, the toggle 66 is molded in one piece along with the
actuator 48 and the plug 60. In this respect, reference may be had
to prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,877 issued Dec. 6, 1966, in the name
of H. Wolf and titled, "UNITARY HINGE", for a full and complete
understanding of one-piece hinges and toggles of this type. The
Wolf patent is hereby incorporated by reference into the present
specification to the extent necessary to provide a complete
understanding of the nature and operation of such single-piece
structures.
The plug 60 has a top wall 76 and a depending, concave, cylindrical
boss 78 having an external diameter that closely matches the
internal diameter of the spout 40 at its outlet orifice 80. Thus,
as illustrated in FIG. 1, the boss 78 may be snugly received within
the orifice 80 so as to seal the latter against the admittance of
ambient air, but only when the actuator 48 is in its undepressed or
standby position of FIGS. 1 and 2.
OPERATION
When the dispensing pump is in the condition illustrated in FIG. 1,
the actuator 48 is in a standby position with the plug 60 snugly
received within the orifice 80 of the spout 40 to close off and
seal the latter. Also at this time, it will be noted that because
of the geometrical relationship between the plug 60 and the pivot
axis for the actuator 48 about the pegs 56, 58, the plug 60
performs a locking function for the actuator 48. In this respect it
will be seen that so long as the boss 78 of the plug 60 is well
seated within the spout 40, it is virtually impossible for the
actuator 48 to be depressed in a clockwise direction about the axis
of the fulcrum pegs 56, 58, and thus the dispensing pump is
maintained both in a closed or sealed condition and a releasably
locked condition against accidental actuation at this time.
In order to operate the pump, it is but necessary to remove the
plug 60 from the spout 40 and flip it back over center to an
out-of-the-way, open position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The toggle
66, of course, will yieldably retain the spout 60 in such
unobstructing location at this time, whereupon the actuator 48 can
then be depressed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 so as to pump
products from the chamber 12.
In this respect, it will be appreciated that as the actuator 48 is
fully depressed, the piston 30 is likewise depressed, carrying
along with it the spout 40, so that products confined between the
lower side of the piston 30 and the upper face of the piston 16 are
forced to rise through the passages 36, 38 and out the orifice 80
of the spout 40. As the downward actuating pressure on the actuator
48 is released, the coil spring 44 returns the piston 30 to its
original, undepressed position, along with the spout 40 and the
actuator 48. The plug 60, however, will remain in its open position
as illustrated in FIG. 2, until such time as it is manually flipped
over-center against the yieldable resistance of the toggle 66 and
inserted into the spout 40.
It will be appreciated that depending upon the viscosity of the
product being discharged, a check valve may or may not be necessary
within the passageway defined by the passages 36, 38 in order to
cause the take-up piston 16 to rise in chamber 12 following release
of the depressed actuator 48. In this respect, if the product is
highly viscous so as to resist being sucked back reversely through
the spout 40 when the latter and the piston 30 rise following a
depression stroke, then no check valve will be necessary. However,
if the viscosity of the product is too low for the product to serve
as its own check valve, then a suitable flapper valve or ball check
valve should be inserted so as to cause the negative pressure
created within the partially evacuated product chamber 12, coupled
with atmospheric pressure on the underside of piston 16, to draw
the piston 16 upwardly within the body 10 by an amount which
corresponds to and compensates for the volume of dispensed product
during the despensing stroke of the actuator 48.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that most of the
components of the dispenser as described above and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing can most conveniently be molded from a
suitable synthetic resinous material.
* * * * *